Bret Bielema is ready to for his team’s first game of the season and his first game as the Razorbacks’ head coach.

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach Bret Bielema is ready to see what he has, he said when he met with the media Monday to preview the team’s season-opening matchup against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday. Coach Bielema expressed his excitement to get on the field for the first time and see what the Razrobacks can do.

“I’m excited just because it’s a chance for me to see just exactly what we have,” Bielema said. “You have a certain indication and a certain belief, but as a head coach you really don’t know what you’ve got until the balls start flying.”

Bielema explained that while he’s interested to see how the Razorbacks perform, he is even more interested in observing how the team reacts to what happens.

“What I’ve always said, and I mean this wholeheartedly, whether it’s life, whether it’s a football game, whether it’s something you’re involved in, it’s not what happens but it’s how you react to what happens,” Bielema said. “That defines who you are. I want our players to know the mechanism that I want them to react to whatever happens Saturday.”

Bielema expressed his excitement to coach his first game in front of Arkansas football fans and inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

“Come out and be loud,” Bielema asked of fans. “I think that the part that no one can quantify or begin to understand is how much the game is played off emotion.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised by FSN. In addition, the game can be seen online here in areas the game is not available on FSN.

Arkansas Razorback football single-game tickets are now on sale online and can be purchased at ArkansasRazorbacks.com, at the Razorback Ticket Center or by calling 800-982-HOGS (4647). Additionally, tickets for the two Little Rock games can be purchased at War Memorial Stadium Ticket Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To my ear Bielema has said all the right things about what it takes to compete in the SEC (fundamentals, conditioning, strong running attack, solid line play, don’t beat yourself with penalties and turnovers), now it is time to see whether the players can execute that strategy. There are talented players, juniors and seniors, on this team who know what it’s like to win ten games in a season. Let’s hope they can remember that mojo and take it to the next level. This team has a chance to surprise people.